The best emollient is the one that suits your skin condition. You should be given the opportunity to try a variety of emollients.

Soap substitutes (emollient wash products)

The everyday use of soaps, shampoos and shower gels can remove the surface layer of natural oils on your skin. This can make your skin dry and further aggravate long-term skin conditions such as eczema.

Soap substitutes are one type of emollient that can be used instead of soap for handwashing and bathing. Although soap substitutes do not produce foam like normal soap, they are just as effective at cleaning the skin.

Many of these leave-on products can also be used as a wash product.

How they help

Emollients work by:

helping skin retain water

moisturising dry skin

easing itching

reducing scaling

softening cracks

protecting the skin

helping other creams and ointments to be absorbed into the skin

How to use them

Soap substitutes (emollient wash products)

Mix a small amount of soap substitute in the palm of your hand (about half to one teaspoonful) with a little warm water, and spread it over damp or dry skin. Rinse and pat the skin dry, but do not rub.

If you are using a soap substitute as well as other treatments, apply the soap substitute first. Allow 30 minutes after using a soap substitute before applying the other treatments.

The soap substitute can be rubbed into the skin and showered or washed off in the bath.

Although aqueous cream is often prescribed, it should not be used. There are better emollients available, as some people may have a reaction to aqueous cream used as an emollient. It also has a high water content, making it less effective than other products as a leave-on emollient.

However, if your skin stings after using the emollient wash products and does not settle down after rinsing, speak to your GP or pharmacist about an alternative soap substitute.

Bath additives

Emollient bath additives can be added to lukewarm bath water to help prevent the loss of moisture from your skin. They can make surfaces slippery, so always use a non-slip mat and be careful when getting yourself or your child out of the bath.

Some bath oils contain an antiseptic, which can help prevent infection. But these products should only be used occasionally, unless the infection is recurrent or widespread.

Never use more than the recommended amount of bath additive. It may cause skin irritation if the concentration is too high, particularly when used with antiseptic bath oils.

Creams and ointments

Emollient creams are less greasy than emollient ointments. They are easy to spread, absorb easily into the skin and are good for use during the daytime. They can also be used on weeping eczema.

Emollient ointments are most suitable for very dry, thick skin and are not suitable for use on weeping eczema. Find one that is best suited to your or your child's skin.

Occasionally, emollient creams may sting when they are first applied to very dry skin. This usually settles down after a few days of treatment.

If it persists, it may be caused by a reaction to a preservative in the cream. If this occurs, talk to your GP or pharmacist about possible alternative emollients, such as an emollient ointment.

Emollients can be used to replace lost moisture whenever your skin feels dry or tight. They are very safe and you can't overuse them because they don't get absorbed through your skin into your body.

You may need to try a variety of different emollients before you find one that is best suited to you or your child. For example, you may decide to use a cream-based emollient during the day and an ointment base at night.

When to apply them

Emollients can be applied as often as recommended by the manufacturer to keep the skin well moisturised and in good condition.

It's especially important to regularly apply an emollient to your hands and face because they are exposed to the elements more than any other part of your body.

Certain activities, such as swimming or gardening, can irritate the skin, so it may help to apply an emollient beforehand.

For babies, it is a good idea to protect their hands and cheeks with an emollient before meal times to stop them getting sore from food and drinks.

Emollients are best applied after washing your hands, taking a bath or showering because this is when the skin is moist. The emollient should ideally be applied to the skin at least three or four times a day.

Whether you are prone to dry skin or not, it's a good idea to use an emollient cream or ointment after washing or bathing because this is when your skin is most in need of moisture. The emollient should be applied as soon as you have patted your skin dry to ensure it is properly absorbed.

Possible reactions to emollients

Possible reactions to emollients can include:

irritant reactions – such as an overheating, burning sensation or stinging, usually caused by a reaction to a certain ingredient contained in the cream or lotion

folliculitis – some emollients can occasionally cause hair follicles to become blocked and inflamed (folliculitis) and cause boils

facial rashes – some facial emollients may cause rashes on the face that can aggravate acne

If you experience painful stinging that continues, try a different emollient or speak to your local pharmacist for advice.

You may be able to help prevent folliculitis by applying emollients gently and in the same direction your hair grows.

Safety advice when using emollients

if you are using paraffin-based emollients, keep away from fire, flames and cigarettes – dressings and clothing soaked with the ointment can be easily ignited

if you keep your emollients in a pot or tub, use a clean spoon or spatula to remove the product – this reduces the risk of infections from contaminated pots

take care when using emollients in a bath, shower or on a tiled floor as there's a risk of slipping – protect the floor with a towel or sheet, wash your bath or shower afterwards with hot water and washing up liquid, then dry with a kitchen towel

avoid using aqueous cream – recent evidence has shown it can cause burning, stinging, itching and redness, especially in children with atopic eczema

Treating skin conditions

It's important to use emollients even when your skin condition is not flaring up and to make sure you don't run out.

After applying emollients, allow 30 minutes before using topical corticosteroids or other treatments applied to the skin. This avoids diluting their effect, spreading them to areas that don't need treating, and increasing the risk of side effects on normal skin.

Emollients are commonly used to treat dry skin conditions such as:

eczema – a long-term skin condition that causes the skin to become reddened, dry, itchy and cracked (read more about treating eczema)

If you have a dry skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis or ichthyosis, use a medicated emollient, even when your skin feels better, to help prevent patches of inflammation and flare-ups. This is because dry skin is more prone to infection.

Video: emollients

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Atopic eczema is the most common type of eczema, affecting around 1 in 12 adults and 1 in 5 children in the UK. Dr Dawn Harper talks about how to make life easier if you have atopic eczema.

Jyc said on 14 May 2014

An emollient is there to soothe rather than solve the issue. I used countless creams for years until I asked for a referral to the skin specialist. Turned out I have an allergy to Kathon CG, which is in a lot of toiletries and cleaning products. For the man with the sore hands, no amount of cream will fix this if you are in regular contact will something that causes the irritation. Hope you manage to pinpoint the problem.

bendigedig said on 03 February 2014

Hi, my hands are so painful/dry and deep bleeding cracks. I have doublebase wash gel prescribed to me, but i am worried that it is not going to clean my hands as good as soap will. I like to see the lather of bubbles -yes i have clinical OCD and i have worked on my hand washing and feel that the washing of my hands is realistic. Please could someone help me feel confident about the use of the "soap substitute". The information leaflet states "helps to cleanse". This does not fill me with confidence.